Sebben, crudele

Melvin commenced his operatic training in 1992 at the Ottawa School of Music in Canada. He has sung with the National Youth Choir of The Bahamas in Nassau; the Men and Boys Choir at Christ Church Cathedral and Opera Lyra Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada; and Opera Holland Park and Opera International at the Royal Albert Hall in London, among others. In addition to singing, Melvin works as a solicitor and serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees at Pegasus Opera Company and is on the Development Committee at OperaUpClose.

Highlights from Melvin’s conversation with The Enormity of Now are below.

Who are you and what do you do

I’m Melvin Claridge. I’m a mix of things. I think singing is central to who I am, even though I don’t do it as my paid job. I now work as a lawyer but that’s not who I am. I don’t want to define myself with the job that I do.

My job is a government tax lawyer, and I think I’m an artist, though I don’t create much art. I still feel torn between singing and doing a full-time job – I have a strong desire to remain involved in the singing world

How has the journey of your art/career engaged your voice – personally, artistically, politically?

When there have been important things to say, sometimes I’ve muted my own voice. I want to say something, but then the time has already passed. Politically there’s a lot more that I can say, but generally don’t. Sometimes, in my capacity of Trustee of Pegasus [Opera Company], my voice and thoughts can be raised.

There are emotional hurdles for me whilst singing, which can lead me to run away. I’ll get so far, then run away, backwards and forwards. I feel a lot of regret. It was fear that sent me into finding a full-time job.

What is the voice that you found while finding your voice?

I think I have two voices. One is determined and focussed, a voice that involves hard work. The other, the funny, joking voice, is the escape when things get hard. All I want is a voice that can do the best that it can and it always be honest.